形合、意合与翻译

Hypotaxis, Parataxis and Translation

形合和意合是语言的组句手段。一般来说英语重形合,强调结构的完整性和形态的严谨性,而汉语重意合,强调内容和表意的完整性。形合和意合的表现都有其深层文化根源。正确认识英语重形合,汉语重意合的特点及其相对性,对于翻译有很大的实践意义。

Hypotaxis and parataxis are two major devices by which the primary language elements realize their linear organization. Generally speaking, English lays emphasis on hypotaxis for its integrity of structure and precision of morphological changes while Chinese on parataxis for its completeness of meaning and expressiveness. Both hypotactic and paratactic expressions can find their profound cultural explanations. And it is proposed that the characteristic hypotaxis-prominence of English and paratactic prominence of Chinese be properly understood together with their relativity and this will be of great significance for translation practice.